While it is not clear whether the government will set up youth centres in all the districts as pledged during its run-up to the fourth Parliamentary Elections, the government during the Meet The Press session today emphasised that with changing times, it has become the government’s priority to create enough job opportunities for the youth. The current government committed to achieving full employment by the end of their term. In the next five years, around 70,000 graduates are expected to enter the job market.
According to the government’s pledge, the youth centres will provide various services, including youth employment facilitation, entrepreneurship development, rehabilitation, business incubation, recreational activities and skills training among others.
According to the National Statistics Bureau’s second quarter Labour Force Survey Report for 2024, youth unemployment stands at 19.2 per cent.
‘‘If the youth centres are established, it will benefit us greatly. As I am unemployed, I am personally planning to start a private company, however, I am challenged with financial constraints,” said Norbu Wangchuk, a youth in Thimphu.
“Such youth centres will benefit us greatly. This is because many people are leaving abroad for work. Most youth leave to either get employed or make money to start a business. If the country can provide such opportunities, I think it will stop the trend of Bhutanese youth leaving the country,” said Kuenga Dawa, another youth.
The existing 13 youth centres are run by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. The centres only provide recreational services to youth as of now.
Meanwhile, during the Meet The Press session today, the prime minister and the industry, commerce and employment minister, said that supporting youth in finding jobs has become increasingly important for the government and that it is the government’s key area of focus.
‘‘The existing youth centres have mostly been providing recreational services to youth, additional training, and career counselling and programmes. With the change in time, our youth need employment opportunities, career support and business incubation. So, such services are being focused,” said Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay.
‘‘Similarly, our ministry has Employment Service Centres. It is not that we have made the pledge, but creating job opportunities has now become very important and it is our priority. There are five regional offices of the ministry to provide support to youth in regional areas. A programme called Youth Employment and Livelihood Programme, YELP has also been established to provide training to interested youth and connect them to employers in the region,’’ said Namgyal Dorji, Industry, Commerce and Employment Minister.
Ministry officials said that as part of the Economic Stimulus Plan, the government has allocated approximately Nu 40 M to Employment Service Centres to provide support for youth employment.
Sonam Yuden
Edited by Kipchu
